Records Highlight First Session of National Jr. Championships

Z'Niah Hutchinson, 14, tied the High Jump Record of 1.65m PHOTO:
Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Several Under 18 Girls kicked off Session I of the BVI
Athletics Association National Jr. Championships last night with record
performances, highlighted by High Jumper Z'Niah Hutchinson and Javelin Thrower Arianna
Hayde.

The competition includes five St. Croix athletes and two
from Anguilla.

Soon to be 15-year old Hutchinson equaled the National High
Jump Record of 1.65m, first established by Virgin Gorda's Tkola Creque in 1994
and matched by Chantel Malone in 2008, when she cleared the height on her
second attempt.

Hutchinson who entered the competition with a best of 1.61m
got over the bar at 1.68m, but was still on the High Jump bed when the bar fell
off and was not credited with the outright record.

In the same event, Malone's sister Xiomara-soon to be 14-finished
second in a personal best of 1.60m, improving on her previous mark of 1.56. It's
the fifth best performance by a BVI athlete behind Creque, Malone, Hutchinson
and Pat Archibald.

In the Javelin Throw, Arianna Hayde eclipsed Tynelle Gumbs'
2012 mark of 41.46m with a heave of 41.47m, becoming the second U18 Girl to
over 40m.

The semifinals of the U18 Girls 400m, saw Judine Lacey running
a lifetime best of 56.04 seconds, behind U20 Girls Lakeisha "Mimi" Warner's
personal best of 55.88. Lacey cut her previous mark from 57.65 for the #9 mark
All Time while Warner is now #8, lowering her three year old mark from 56.49.

Ronique Todman edged St. Croix's Rodney Griffith in the U20
Boys 400m prelims, getting to the line in 48.89 seconds to Griffin's 48.92. Under
18 boy Rakeel Jack dipped under 50 seconds for the first time, placing second in
49.50 seconds behind Tarique Moses' 49.24.

Todman returned to win the U20 Boys 100m in 10.99 seconds.

The competition that continues at 10 a.m. this morning with
the Discus Throw and the 200m semifinals.

Session III kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Events includes the 200,
400 and 800m finals in both U18 and U20 Male and Female divisions, as well as the
Long Jump and Shot Put.